“Not knowing ahead of time that something is supposed to be impossible often makes it possible to achieve. I didn’t have any limitations because I really didn’t know anything about horticulture. I just figured I could do whatever I wanted with any plant I had.” – Pearl Fryar

One night I watched a documentary on Netflix (I’m addicted to it, I’m sure I’ve mentioned this,). I don’t know why I picked this one…A Man Named Pearl.  A movie about a man in South Carolina that has topiaries (I must admit that at this point, I had no clue what topiaries were) hardly seems interesting….

December 2011

I was about to set up a maintenance page on my blog when I came across this draft post that I’ve had sitting for about a year. I’ve been working on a new business (I’ll share it soon) that by everyone’s standards seems like it would be impossible to achieve. But since it’s happening, I know they’re wrong. Reading the quote above, I realized that it’s only possible because I stopped believing that things are impossible. Protect your dreams and go after them. There is no such thing as impossible. Challenging…certainly. Impossible…never.

This post is all over the place and rather cryptic, but check out the movie…A Man Named Pearl. It’s incredibly inspiring. And I’ve learned that you can never have enough inspiration.

No related posts.

So, here they are…all the things that I have going on this year.

1. Working less, making more. In December I read “4-Hour Work Week” and it changed my life. If you’ve read the book and followed this blog, you already know that this is the direction that I’ve been moving in. The book just helped spark a lot of important ideas on how to get where I want to be. At the end of 2010, I spent a lot of time analyzing my personal weaknesses and how they impacted the company. Many changes were needed. So now, Tia has agreed to manage all the day to day stuff, we’re outsourcing all of our admin functions, we’re adding a few more photographers and we’re getting some account managers. It will take about a month to set this all up, but once it’s done, I’ll focus on branding and communications. That’s it.

2. Moving to the city. I’ve decided to make Atlanta my base location indefinitely. (I’m hesitant about writing that down because I remember saying the same thing about DC and then ended up moving a week later.) It feels good to make a decision about this. It has been on my mind since the summer. I know that most people wouldn’t imagine that this is something really important to me, but it is. As much as I like traveling, I like my own space. I need somewhere that allows me to feel like I’m living even when I’m not traveling. I want to be able to walk to a coffee shop, have a place for photo shoots, host dinner parties, etc. The suburbs are killing me. I’ve gotten to know Atlanta a little bit now and there are a few neighborhoods that would allow me to have the lifestyle that I want. It’s not DC (it’s also not as expensive) but it will do. The goal is to find a place by June.

3. Dancing. As I twirled around my room on NYE, I realized how much I missed dancing. One of the things I was planning on doing this winter in Salvador was dancing for four months. I’ve decided that I’m going to start taking dance classes again. This is something that probably won’t happen until I move. It’s also one of the major reasons that I want to live in the city.

4. Traveling I want to travel out of the country at least three times this year. I have no set place to go but I’m looking into Jamaica, Nicaragua and a trip back to Brasil. I plan on staying put for the first six months of the year so I’ll be cramming this in the last six months.

5. This blog. I’m going to blog more consistently this year. I’ll post twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. (Maybe I’ll get up to three times.) One of my main goals when I started this blog was to be googleable. (Weird,  I know). I searched for myself one day and I was all the way on page five! After writing for over a year, I’m now number one. Woot! Since my very superficial goal has been accomplished, my new goal is to use this blog to travel for free. I have no interest in monetizing this blog, I just want tons of perks. So, even though I consider myself to be a very behind the scenes type of person, I will be growing my personal brand.

6. Personal Projects. Back in July, I mentioned that I have this dream of having a bloco and doing a documentary in Salvador. Even though I haven’t mentioned it since, I have been taking small steps to accomplish this. The most important thing I realized was that I should wait another year. I started a Salvador website instead and I’ll work on building that up and then having the bloco in 2012. My other personal project is “In the Light”. I suffered a major setback on this one. My brother deleted all the photos from my external hard drive so I essentially have to start all over. Painful. But, I’m going to do it. Since I won’t be shooting as much for Sevan, I’ll be able to spend more time focusing on this.

This should be enough to get me through the year.

Related posts:

1. Making Dreams Happen
2. Another Year Older
3. What’s Your Word?

January

- Started the new year on the beach in Salvador, Brasil (wearing purple while everyone else wore white).

February

-Danced in the streets of Salvador during Carnaval until 6 am in the morning and realized that being drunk is the only way to do it.
-Started off my birthday on the beach in Salvador at midnight with a bag of ruffles and a can of Skol, before being rudely interrupted my someone.

March

-Contemplated ripping up my return ticket for the US and decided against it. I learned that I should live in the moment more!

April

-Met Angela Lansbury at the Signature Theatre Gala and she’s as cool as I thought she would be.
-Learned to speak up when something is bothering me, even if it’s really, really difficult. Real friends will understand.

May

-Saw my best friend graduate from law school in Houston.
-Started dating again and met some really great guys and only one weirdo.
-Flew to New York for the day to hang out with all of my friends in Brooklyn.

June

-Started discovering that Atlanta is not all bad and there are quite a few places that I really love and would actually miss: Octane Coffee, The Glenn Hotel lobby and Spoon.
-Went to the BEST CONCERT EVER: Nas and Damian Marley. Effin win.
-Perfected cooking moqueca just in time for the World Cup (even though Brasil lost).
-Learned that I had a habit of loving men that weren’t emotionally available.

July

(Hmmm, I can’t think of anything memorable that happened in this month. Not a thing.)

August

-Met a guy and started a whirlwind relationship. There are too many memories from this to list them all.

September

-Opened myself up to love (regardless of the outcome).

October

-Went to South Carolina to meet Pearl Fryar.
-Laid on the beach in Aruba for hours by myself. Very relaxing.
-Partied with my friends in DC.

November

-Ate an insane amount of fried fish in Panama City, Panama and used Spanish I hadn’t thought about in 10 years.
-Walked the streets of Casco Viejo (Panama) and remembered why I loved colonial cities/areas.

December

- Learned that I still have a habit of loving men that are emotionally unavailable, lol.
-Started “planning” all the trips that I will take and projects that I will work on in 2011.

Whew! I’ve done quite a lot this year and I know that next year will be even better than I can imagine right now. I’m pretty fortunate. I’m excited to see what the new year will bring.

I hope that 2011 is full of exciting new adventures for you all!

Related posts:

1. New Year, Same Old Dreams
2. Lessons Learned This Week
3. Eat, Pray, Love Pt. II

Last November, I had a chance to shoot a wedding in Negril. Driving from Montego Bay’s airport to Negril, I couldn’t help but think of how different this was from the Jamaica that I knew growing up. Being dropped at the Hotel Riu Tropical Palace didn’t help. All inclusives have never been my thing and after a few days it was abundantly clear to me why. (And sorry, but if the only place you’ve been to on the island is an all inclusive, you haven’t been to Jamaica.) It was the most generic experience that I’ve ever had. Not enough Red Stripe (they have it on tap!) could make watching the staff perform Grease (seriously? Grease?) bearable.

But alas, I want to go back. Since I’ll be going on my own, I’ll avoid the tourist traps of Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios.  I’ve had my eye on Port Antonio for a few years now and after I stumbled across Geejam Hotel, I knew I had to go. Geejam might literally be the most perfect hotel that I’ve seen. It’s also one of the most expensive. So, we’ll see how this works out…

Happy Holidays!

Related posts:

1. Is It Safe to Travel to Jamaica?

The beach is an important part of the Australian lifestyle, and because Australians grow up on the beach and around backyard pools, they are taught from a very young age how to swim and survive in the surf.

Tourists or visitors from overseas, however, often haven’t had the same exposure to or experience with surf beaches. Australia is best known and recognised for its beautiful beaches and surf culture, and while the coast is there for all to enjoy, visitors and tourists should be aware that Australian beaches can have hidden dangers, such as strong rips and currents.

If you’re visiting Australia for some of its sun, sand and sea, then make sure you follow these guidelines to make it a safe and fun experience.

-  Swim between the flags. Most Australian beaches are patrolled by surf lifesavers who erect two yellow and red flags on the beach in the morning to dedicate a section of the beach that is safe for swimming. Make sure you swim within the flags.

-  Avoid swimming alone or at night. Always swim with a friend, and no matter how competent you believe you are in the water, do not swim in the surf at night. Not only will you not be able to see dangers or conditions for yourself, no one else will be able to see you should something happen.

- Call for help from surf lifesavers if needed. Australian lifesavers are trained to help those who get into difficult situations in the surf. If you need help, then ask a surf lifesaver, or signal to them from the water.

- Keep an eye on your kids. For those visiting Australia on family holidays, make sure that you watch your children, who may not be familiar with big wave beaches. Many Australian beaches – particularly in Sydney – also have beach pools, which can provide safer swimming conditions for children.

- Sun protection. The Australian sun is harsh due to a hole in the Ozone layer above the continent, and thus can cause serious sun damage. Even if you’re from another sunny destination, make sure you wear a high SPF factor sunscreen and a hat. Even if you’ve just flown in on Bali flights and are sun kissed, the Australian sun is different, so as the saying goes, ‘Slip, Slop and slap’ on your sunscreen.

If you’ve always wanted to holiday Down Under and have nabbed cheap flights to Australia, then its beautiful beaches and waterways await you. Just make sure follow this beach safety advice, and you’ll get the most out of your Australian beach experience.

Photo by Pavel Sigarteu

Related posts:

1. World’s Sexiest Beaches
2. Living in a Bubble
3. The Beach Boys and the Rest of the Salvador Cast

Ughhh…. It’s possible this could be a good…meh…it’s possible this can be an ok thing. But honestly, I really hate change. I just don’t like it. Especially when it’s a huge part of my travel plans. I’ve flown at least 12 roundtrips on AirTran this year and I really like my assigned seats and Business Class upgrades–two things that I know will disappear with this merger.

I also like that AirTran has corporate offices in Atlanta because that meant a constant battle with Delta to keep fares low. Now, granted, Southwest is also a low cost airline so the prices shouldn’t be much different, but will there be as many fare options?

We’ll see how this goes, but I’m feeling a wee bit sad about it all.

So long AirTran, so long.

No related posts.

As I awoke on this morning, I realized just how far away from home I was. How foreign everything (including the language) really seemed. I opened the bedroom door, stepped on the wide veranda overlooking the bay with the fishermen and their boats headed out for the day. As I took in the surroundings, I realized that it really was beautiful here. Wherever here really turned out to be.

I walked a few steps to the slightly tilted, wooden futon. I sat. I stared. I stared some more. Then I asked myself, “What am I going to do today?” It was an odd question really. So odd that I had to say it aloud for a few times just to make sense of it. The absurdity of it made me chuckle.

The answer: I had no idea. I had come to Brazil with no purpose, no real goal, no set itinerary, no friends to visit…and on top of all of that, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d ask myself what I was going to do without the answer being influenced by outside forces. For once, I was on my own. Here, in this strange place to figure it all out.

I remember this morning often when I think of my first adventure in the world as a single woman. It was at that moment that I realized one of the joys of being by myself was that I could do whatever I wanted, even if it meant sitting on a futon and being terrified.

I could sit and stare at the ocean for hours, I could venture outside and find the beach or I could try and locate a place with decent WIFI.

Here’s what else I learned about traveling alone and why any woman can (and should) do it.

1. You’re never really alone. That first day, I realized that there were tons of people traveling by themselves and eager to make new friends. If someone as shy as me can sit and talk to strangers, anyone can do it. (Nobody ever believes that I’m shy, but I really am. I just mask it well with charm). It’s easier to meet people when you’re by yourself. That’s actually true whether you’re in another country or not.

2. You can do what you want. I’m not big on traditional tourist destinations. I’ve yet to see anything that a guidebook has pointed me to in Brasil. A good trip for me includes beaches and cafes. When you’re traveling by yourself, you’re free to create your own itinerary.

3. You learn more about yourself. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this several times before…I cried plenty on the flight to Salvador. Plenty. I was afraid. Not just of the trip, but what I was going to do with the rest of my life. Being able to “survive” on my own for a month in a foreign place taught me more things about myself than I could possibly express here. I was freed.

Related posts:

1. People Are Living
2. Favorite Memories and Lessons of 2010
3. Eat, Pray, Love Pt. II

In order for the business to work, these victims are rarely completely hidden. It’s just that many people don’t pay attention to the possibility that they around and it’s why they go unnoticed. That was the case in the New York Times article. A sex trafficking operation was held in a house in the suburbs in Plainfield, New Jersey. Many of the neighbors said they noticed a lot of girls going in and out of the house and men with expensive cars, but they didn’t realize what was happening.

A lot of this stuff completely shocked me. I knew about sex trafficking, but I honestly didn’t pay too much attention. When I realized that Atlanta was one of the busiest US centers for sex trafficking, I thought about how many times I’ve been in that airport…It’s just amazing what we’re not aware of when we don’t want to be aware.

I have a lot more thoughts, but I’m just not quite sure how to put them into words yet. For now, I’ve added a video clip and some links below.

Informational Links

• The Project to End Human Trafficking

• Children of the Night

• Not For Sale

• Susan Sarandon Speaks Out Against Child Sex Trafficking

• ABC Article on Sex Trafficking in the US

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1. Things On My Mind This Morning

2. Wallow in the ache of a broken heart. Oh, the pain. The agony. The pints of Ben & Jerry’s in front of the cable TV. Yep, getting dumped is beyond awful, but guess what? It’s the only way that you’ll develop the empathy you’ll need to be a better partner in a relationship. Because if you’re sensitive to the grief someone else has caused you, you’re less likely to do the same to anyone else. So, consider this painful milestone a lesson in karma that’ll serve you well as you travel through your dating days.

3. Spend a weekend with a married couple your age. On lonely nights, it’s common for single folk to envision marriage as a cozy scene from a classic film or mail-order catalog. But by spending 48 hours with a real couple, you’ll learn that in between the snuggling and pet names comes growling, bickering, silent treatments and maybe even a slammed door or two before they ultimately compromise. It will show you what married life is like, warts and all, so you won’t over-idealize the two-becomes-one phenomenon again.

4. Don’t come home all night. That’s right, wild thing. Crash on a friend’s couch, take your friends up on that offer of a last-minute trip… Once you have a mate, you can’t just take off on your own without explanation. And, truthfully, you won’t want to. So if you don’t have someone you have to call and check in with every few hours, take this opportunity to check out!

5. Stand up for a cause you care about. Whether you volunteer to help register voters for the next election (why not start early?) or convince your neighborhood or apartment complex to start recycling, get fired up over an issue while you have the time to devote to it. It will remind you that while, yes, finding your soul mate is pretty important, there are other issues at stake in the world that could use your help. And besides, the big-heartedness you’ll be cultivating is very attractive.

Read the rest here.

Related posts:

1. Black Women Are Single. How is this Still News?
2. Yes, I’m Single…And I Enjoy It
3. People Are Living

As I was researching a lit of potential sponsors, I came across the Red Bull Music Academy Radio.

Red Bull Music Academy Radio is a web radio station that features hundreds and hundreds of exclusive live recordings, interviews, mixes, and documentary-style feature shows – with more uploaded each day. Launched as a spin-off of the Red Bull Music Academy workshop series in 2005, RBMA Radio has taken giant leaps over the past years, building a vast resource of content from more than 50 countries right across the globe.

What a find! If you like music from all over the world, you really have to check it out. I’ve embedded it into this post, but feel free to grab it from their website if it doesn’t work for some reason.

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1. What’s Your Theme Music?